Is it your responsibility to report a coworker's drug use on the job?

Messy said:
Yes if I worked as a surgeon and my fellow surgeon was on cocain I would have to say it, but I bet everyone notices that. In my work nobody can die, so it's none of my business.
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Once an operating-room nurse told me that many surgeons she knew were alcoholics. The nurses were glad when the surgeon had drunk alcohol in the morning, since his tremor during surgery was less.
 
In most cases no. Unless it's a situation where it's a dangerous job where being under the influence could get someone seriously injured or killed. The first few years I worked at the Florida DOT just about everone got blitzed out of their mind the day before Thanksgiving and Christmas, It was just an office job so nobody got hurt. Although I suppose driving home DUI was a risk. I was guilty of that a time or two myself. This was in the late 70's and early 80's. Then we got a change in leadership at the top and ruined all the fun.
 
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Messy said:
Yes if I worked as a surgeon and my fellow surgeon was on cocain I would have to say it, but I bet everyone notices that. In my work nobody can die, so it's none of my business.
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I had a long time pot dealer who took me to meet his boss the head honcho. Boss was head surgeon at local hospital. He volunteered to me that he always smoked pot before surgery.
 
. I believe management should know their employees...and pay attention. Some things are only important to management. But once I was tasked with taking care or a nurse anesthesiologist who had JUST LEFT SURGERY. She had gone into a bathroom down the hall and passed out. An aid had found her and transported her to me in the emergency room. When she was able I walked her to the bathroom...and unknown to her collected a urine sample. Then I got blood. I presented it all to management and they were able to prove without a doubt the gal was diverting drugs. She was fired...sent before the licensing board and required to complete treatment and regular drug testing. Sometimes it all matters.
 
IrishEyes said:
If you work in a career with children you are required by State Regulations to report even suspected
things like this as well as any type of abuse to the children. You are told not to approach the child or adult
so when they investigate nothing can be said to be coerced or fed to child in regard to their being questioned
as well as to protect yourself from retaliation. I have had to report suspected sexual abuse 2 times and both times
it was proven and father was removed.
Possible retaliation can be frightening, if work places want this reported they should maybe do as the State does.
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That's one reason the OP question is not one that has a stock answer. In the case you cited, I would be compelled to report the offender. I worked in accounting, which would be a whole different situation. This post is not in opposition to yours, just to clarify my feelings, since I took a much different approach than yours, in my earlier post #9.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
That's one reason the OP question is not one that has a stock answer. In the case you cited, I would be compelled to report the offender. I worked in accounting, which would be a whole different situation. This post is not in opposition to yours, just to clarify my feelings, since I took a much different approach than yours, in my earlier post #9.
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I wasn't even going to post but thought, it is good when people are in fear of retribution if found out they reported
something especially at work that they have an option like the State requires and holds up. I understand all is not the same.
But in this world today even a simple thing like reporting someone, you don't know their mindset and what someone could
resort to if they lose their job over your reporting. I know I was so nervous and afraid and I had the State protecting my
report from the accused. It can be very scary situation and get out of control crazy fast. No worries Mack - we good!
 
Muskrat said:
. I believe management should know their employees...and pay attention. Some things are only important to management. But once I was tasked with taking care or a nurse anesthesiologist who had JUST LEFT SURGERY. She had gone into a bathroom down the hall and passed out. An aid had found her and transported her to me in the emergency room. When she was able I walked her to the bathroom...and unknown to her collected a urine sample. Then I got blood. I presented it all to management and they were able to prove without a doubt the gal was diverting drugs. She was fired...sent before the licensing board and required to complete treatment and regular drug testing. Sometimes it all matters.
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The stories I heard from my doctor sister and doctor friend. They just started. Fresh out of college. Good luck. Ask a nurse. We're on a holiday. A man almost died.
 
David777 said:
I'm not a fan of Titles so open for individual interpretation that easily results in thread hijacking.

Title is:
Is it your responsibility to report a coworker's drug use on the job?

Title should be:
Is it your responsibility to report a coworker's dangerous or illegal drug use on the job?

Of course the OP's intent was not someone taking aspirin for a headache, or someone's prescription medicine, or for that matter the person filling their coffee mugs down in the break room with caffeinated coffee. The OP is expecting one will immediately think it is referring to some drug that may affect job performance, might affect safety of them and others, or could affect overall company efficiency, or is societally illegal.

Thus, some people for decades have been nailed by others for during breaks, sneaking in snorts from hard liquor bottles in their coats. But then what about the driver that with lunch drank a single 8 ounce light beer? But because the OP used the word "drugs" they probably were not thinking of reporting those many historically that quietly drink alcohol when they think they can do so secretly. So if not alcohol, this must be some types of illegal drugs? Like one truck driver reporting on another driver they see shooting up with smack at a truck stop.

What about someone with a long weekend that on Monday morning takes a Ritalin tablet to stay awake? Or likewise a semitruck driver that on an employment important delivery, possibly feeling sleepy for whatever reason, very occasionally takes a like lower potency amphetamine during situations they don't want to fall asleep while driving and after which more coffee won't help. Much like military forces of all nations sometimes give their soldiers amphetamines only during long combat situations?

Well we can certainly imagine some situations where use of numbers of depressant drugs would endanger the rest of us while say driving their company vehicles in public. Or the employee that ignoring policy, smokes nicotine cigarettes in a restaurant kitchen when they think they are alone, where it might affect the flavor or prepared foods. But then what about that temporary minimum wage person during a work break sharing some other workers joint while working for the county cleaning vehicles at a motor pool?

Yeah a lot of situations. Because life can be complicated.
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Hi David. For long as I've been on multiple forums, and that you are also on over the years, you often have critiqued other members
topic titles. I also realize it is something you like to do. But surely you understand that OP's
choose their topic titles based on what 'they' prefer. That is how it should be.

With that said...

My threads being hijacked is not a big deal to me. I am used to members bringing in any number of thoughts that might not directly have
to do with the topic title. For myself, it is not a focus.
 
I used to work at a feedlot, and for most of that time, I drove a feed truck. My truck was the smallest, rated at 13,000 lbs but usually loaded over 18,000.
If more than 3 people showed up in the mill at the same time, the mill boss would grab a piece of blank paper, dig out a bottle of whiskey and inform us we were having a safety meeting.
We'd all sign the paper, the bottle would go around 3 or 4 times, and we'd hop in our overloaded trucks and go feed cows.
In the years before safety meetings, 2 guys were killed, one went through the hay box and another got buried by a silage pile collapse.
After the safety meetings, we never lost anybody.
It was a fun job, but probably not very safe.
 
@Cornhusker ....also did the feedlot gig. Rode pens. And yes...some of the cowboys drank. Also worked yard backing at a huge sale barn. Yes there was schnapps in the occasional feed bunk. Much needed if the sale was still going on late night and it was freezing cold. We did not die...and neither did anyone else.
 
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